*Shakes head* Tsk..tsk..tsk..
Did you all really think I would leave you hanging?! I thought you knew me better than that!
I'm very disappointed in all of you. LOL, just kidding, I still love you. But I always did intend to tie up loose ends, and since I'm playing hookie today [shhh don't tell anyone] I figured, no time like the present!] And so, without further adieu, I give you the..(drum roll, please)----
"KRYSTAL!" Legolas cried. "Gandalf, what is happening?!"
But Gandalf hadn't even noticed--he was bringing his staff closer and closer to Sauron, whispering inaudible things--Sauron was fighting back--the eerie sounds of wraiths darkened the sky--he was calling his minions--Elladan's eyes, so weak, focused on Krystal's suddenly glowing shape. "Krystal?" he whispered. "What's going on?!"
Aragorn took several, unsteady steps towards Krystal, his hands outstretched as if to touch her.
"No!" Gandalf snapped, not looking at either of them. "You mustn't touch her!" He continued his muttering at Sauron, who was slowly withering beneath their eyes. The wizard drew himself up full height, and at last, Sauron could take it no more. He shot up into the sky, a screaming black blurb rushing across the sky. The light began to burn in Dul-Gudur's windows again, and Gandalf shook his head. "That won't do," he said heavily, and with one last raise of his staff, the very foundations of Dol-Guldur began to shake. The Orcs, foolishly that they were, heeded their master's unspoken cry and rushed into the trembling building, hurriedly trying to support it with their own bodies. But Gandalf would not allow it, and he thrust his arms downward--the citadel shuddered one last time, and crumbled to the ground, entombing all but a few orcs. Sauron screeched across the sky, not destroyed--after all, his fate was tied to the one ring, the ring that could change the future of Middle Earth..but that is a different story.
Elladan eased himself out of Legolas's grasp and forced his way to Krystal's side; she was still glowing, her eyes wide and petrified, but she seemed to be able to see them. "I'm alright!" she called, but her voice seemed miles away. "I'm alright!"
"Gandalf, dosomething!" Legolas ordered furiously. When the old man said nothing, merely shook his head slowly, Legolas brushed past everyone to reach out and grab Krystal. Gandalf lunged to hold him back, but he just caught the end of Legolas's tunic. The elf tripped from the sudden lurch back, but his momentum was forward--he dived, trying to grab Krystal's arm--he reached out--his fingers closed on--
Nothing. She had vanished. The light had suddenly glowed brilliantly, and they could hear her cry, "GOODBYE! DONT FORGET ME!" and then she was gone. Legolas saw the ground coming up to meet him with a thud, his eyes open. "Where did she go?" he whispered. Elladan was simply staring, horrified. "I don't understand, Mithrandir," he said slowly. "Where did she go?!"
Gandalf slowly shook his head, leaning down to give Legolas a hand to his feet.
"She's gone home, my friends." He said softly. "Back to where she belongs."
Legolas's eyes widened as he blanched, and Elladan shook his head. "No..no, it cannot be! She did not fulfill her--"
"Purpose?" Gandalf finished gently. "Elladan, she saved your life, and Legolas's. She managed to keep you all sane on your journey here, but more importantly, she learned to trust again. She has done everything she came here to do."
Elladan continued shaking his head. "It can't be true--this is..some wickedness of Saurons! Gandalf, we must help her!"
But Aragorn slowly laid a hand on Elladan's arm. "It's alright, Elladan." He said softly. "She'll be okay." Elladan whirled on him -- his face showed the pain it caused him but he did it anyway-- "Okay!" He repeated mockingly. "I promised to take care of her! I was supposed to make sure she got home safe and sound--"
"And you did." Gandalf told him, laying a hand on Elladan's side. "You did."
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Krystal sighed. It had been months since her mysterious 'week' in the woods, but she still couldn't stop thinking about it. She remembered everything so vividly -- so perfectly -- it couldn't have been a dream, it simply couldn't! She still kept her two gifts -- the dull arrowhead and the shinning star underneath her bed everynight. Shrugging, she sighed, gathering her car keys and hopping in her car. She decided to just drive around, try and sort herself out. She hadn't talked to anyone about what happened to her -- when her friends asked, she merely shrugged and said she didn't really know. The roads seemed endless before her in the early summer morning light and she sighed. She didn't want to be here - she wanted to be back where she belonged, back where she felt accepted! Her mother had seemed like she'd missed her, and so had the rest of her family. But that didn't mean she wanted to be here.
She slowly drove through town, the roads all but deserted. The town was dark; only one light at the long end of main street. Her curiosity piqued, Krystal slowly slid into the empty parking spot. She eased herself out of the car, her body still aching from her mysterious lurch through time and space. She made a move to drop a quarter into the meter, but stopped. No one was around, never mind a police man. She walked towards the only opened store -- a small coffee/bookshop. The old women inside, her face tanned from time and lined with wrinkles, smiled kindly at her, asking if there was anything she could do to help. Krystal shook her head in the negative, explaining she just wanted to walk around. She wandered through the aisles of books, breathing in the warm scent of crisp pages and crinkled covers. She found herself in the science fiction section, and almost turned around -- she had never really been a fan of star wars. But something caught her eye, and she froze. The color rushed to her face, and she slowly picked up a large, hard cover book. The title made her hand shake, and she read it over again, her mouth slowly forming the words, "Guide to Middle Earth." Her eyes traveled up from this large picture book, to four other, smaller books, stacked on top of each other. They were clearly old; the covers were crinkled and the pages coffee stained. With trembling hands, she picked up the top one -- "The Hobbit", and opened the index. She slowly sank down to the floor, her back bumping against old books as she slid down the shelves. Her eyes caught the words 'Mirkwood', 'Rivendell', 'Gandalf' and 'Misty Mountains'. Her mouth dropped into a perfect 'O', before bursting into a grin. She closed her eyes, sighed, then slowly began to read.
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Well, there ya go! The end -- really this time. LoL. If I get enough request for a sequel, as I have purposefully left more than enough room for one, i will consider it. Send all requests to baby_blu_012@yahoo.com , subject, 'So much to ask' - More please! LoL. :o) I'm exicted. Thank you SO much for all your support guys. I love you all!